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UK Masters Degree Loans – Country Comparisons
A Masters loan can make postgraduate study more affordable by helping with tuition fees and living costs. In the UK, different postgraduate Masters loans are available in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Learn how each loan works, what you're eligible for and how to apply with our guides below. You can also jump to a quick comparison of the different options. If you're looking for a PhD, read our guide to UK doctoral loans.
Funding for Postgraduate Study - The UK Masters Loan
You can get a £12,858 postgraduate student loan for a Masters degree in any subject. Read our simple guide, covering eligibility, applications and FAQS.
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Funding in Scotland: Postgraduate Loans 2026
You can get a Scottish postgraduate loan of up to £13,900 for a Masters degree or PGDip from SAAS. Learn how this funding works in our guide.
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2026 Postgraduate Funding in Wales
You can get Welsh postgraduate funding of up to £19,635 towards a Masters degree starting after 1 August 2026. Learn how this funding works in our guide.
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2026 Postgraduate Loans in Northern Ireland
You can get a Northern Irish postgraduate loan of up to £6,500 for a Masters, PGCert or PGDip from Student Finance NI. Learn exactly how this funding works in our guide.
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Postgraduate Loan Repayments
Our guide explains how the different UK postgraduate student loan repayments work, with salary examples, FAQs and a handy postgrad loan repayment calculator.
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Postgraduate Bank Loans for Masters Degrees - A Guide
Various lenders offer private students loans for postgraduate study. Our guide explains how they work and highlights how they differ from government student loans.
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The UK's four postgraduate loan options have plenty in common, but there are some differences between the individual schemes.
Here's a quick comparison of the key details:
| England | Northern Ireland | Wales | Scotland | |
| Value | £12,167 | £5,500 | £18,770* | £11,500** |
| Level | Full Masters | Up to Masters | Full Masters | Up to Masters |
| Courses | Taught & Research | Taught & Research | Taught & Research | Taught & Research |
| Length | Up to 4 years | Up to 3 years | Up to 4 years | Up to 4 years |
| *Wales offers Masters students a grant of between £1,000 and £6,885, based on household income. A postgraduate loan is then available to top this up to £18,770. | ||||
| **Scotland offers two separate postgraduate loans for tuition fees and living costs. Their eligibility criteria differ slightly. | ||||
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Last updated: 02 October 2025
